Bella Vista, AR Tornado History — 120 Tornadoes Since 1950
How many tornadoes has Bella Vista, AR had?
Bella Vista has had 120 tornadoes on record within 25 miles since 1950, including 9 violent (EF3+) tornadoes.
When was the most recent tornado near Bella Vista?
The most recent tornado within 25 miles of Bella Vista was an EF1 on June 18, 2025.
When is tornado season in Bella Vista?
May is historically the peak month for tornadoes near Bella Vista, with 37 on record. Spring through early summer (April–June) generally sees the highest activity across most of the central and southern United States.
At a Glance
Recent Tornado Activity Near Bella Vista
The last 20 years of confirmed tornadoes within 25 miles — 63 total, averaging 3.1 per year over this window.
Tornadoes by Decade
Tornadoes by Enhanced Fujita Rating
F0–F5 ratings (pre-2007) are grouped with their EF equivalents. The Enhanced Fujita scale replaced the original Fujita scale in February 2007.
Tornadoes by Month
Casualties on Record Near Bella Vista
8 fatalities have been recorded within 25 miles of Bella Vista since 1950, across 5 events. 140 injuries have been reported across all events. 2010 was the deadliest year on record.
The deadliest single event was an EF3 on December 31, 2010, which caused 4 fatalities along a 21.1-mile track.
Notable Tornadoes Near Bella Vista
About Tornadoes in Bella Vista
This overview was written July 28, 2026. The tornado counts and notable-event figures elsewhere on this page reflect the latest data and may differ from this summary.
Bella Vista sits among the wooded Ozark hills of Benton County, in Arkansas's far northwest corner near the Missouri line, and tornadoes have crossed this landscape in every season. An F3 tore a 51.8-mile path through the area on June 12, 1970, killing one person and injuring 45, and on March 13, 2006, two F3 tornadoes tracked across the region on the same day, one running 29 miles and the other 25.
The cold months have produced dangerous tornadoes of their own. An F2 on November 15, 1988 traveled 28 miles and killed one person. On December 31, 2010, an EF3 carved a 21.1-mile path, killing four people and injuring 10, and an EF2 on February 29, 2012 took another life along a 1.7-mile track.
Recent springs have hit hard as well. An EF3 struck on March 30, 2022, injuring seven and causing $20 million in damage along a 5.2-mile path. On May 26, 2024, tornadoes swept the area repeatedly in a single day, among them an EF3 with a damage path up to 3,200 yards wide and an EF2 that alone caused $80 million in damage. EF1 tornadoes touched down again on April 29, 2025, and on June 18, 2025.